Category: Podcast

Episode 18: Breast Cancer, the Patient Voice in Social Media

Posted on by

Sharing your story as a breast cancer survivor on social media requires authenticity, creativity, vulnerability with keen knowledge of navigating the responsibility of telling stories that benefit the reader. I have learned a lot from my guest on episode 18, breast cancer, and the patient voice in social media with Marie Ennis O’Connor. She guides many breast cancer writers as a social media consultant, keynote speaker, and digital storyteller. Her creative work can be found at Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer. Marie’s work spans the globe, and her impact creating a cross continental family of writers is immeasurable. I am excited to share the summary of the DiepCJourney podcast for her presentation, The Weekly Roundup, on Twitter. How Marie Began to Use her Patient Voice Marie was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early thirties. The two myths she faced and shares with us are: She only knew breast cancer to Continue Reading →

Episode 15: Lymphedema Treatment and Surgery

Posted on by

Lymphedema. It is not a disease. It is a condition breast cancer patients can experience. Skill, knowledge, expertise, experience, and compassionate care all matter when you are seeking any treatment for lymphedema. Our guest, Dr. Ramon Garza III, is well-qualified to discuss the topic of lymphedema treatment and surgery and possesses all of those characteristics. This is Episode 15 of the DiepCJourney podcast. Dr. Garza is a board certified plastic surgeon in San Antonio who practices at PRMA (Plastic Reconstructive Microsurgical Associates) and performs both surgical and non-surgical treatment for those affected by lymphedema. We discuss the value of finding a certified lymphedema therapist. You can search the LANA website for one in your area.  Understanding the Lymphatic System When Considering Treatment and Surgery The function of the lymphatic system is to move excess fluid out of our bodies. It works in unison with the immune system. It is the mismanagement of fluid that causes lymphedema. Continue Reading →

Episode 11: Decorative and Restorative Tattoos for Breast Cancer Patients

Posted on by

Eric Eye is our guest on Episode 11 discussing decorative and restorative tattoos for breast cancer patients on the DiepCJourney podcast. He is a trained visual artist who performs 3D nipple and areola tattoos for patients who have had mastectomy and breast reconstruction after breast cancer. His work can be found on his Instagram account as well as his Facebook page. He is located in Seattle, Washington but Eric has traveled to other locations to provide services for breast cancer patients. Bringing Art to Life in Decorative and Restorative Tattoos The story of how he transitioned from years of experience in tattooing to providing restorative tattoos for breast cancer patients is a touching one. What are restorative tattoos? Eric’s work includes beautiful and artistic drawings covering a mastectomy or breast reconstruction scar. This can be across the breast area or an abdominal scar from DIEP flap surgery. They are most Continue Reading →

Episode 6: Living Flat after Breast Cancer

Posted on by

Juliet Fitzpatrick is a breast cancer survivor and patient advocate from the U.K. who chose aesthetic flat closure  after breast cancer. She writes about her experience at Blooming Cancer, Living Flat and Recovery after Breast Cancer. In Episode 6: Living Flat after Breast Cancer, on the DiepCJourney podcast Juliet and I chat about her decision to remain flat. She asked a lot of questions and did her research after her breast cancer diagnosis before making this choice. We chat about prosthesis, support groups, blogging, and of course, our combined interest in gardening. These are all on the list of things Juliet is doing since her diagnosis and through her continued recovery, finding the simple passions in life that are important to her. The Breast Cancer Diagnosis Juliet was diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast after having the second routine mammogram she ever had in her life. She was Continue Reading →

Episode 10: Male Breast Cancer

Posted on by

Male breast cancer will be diagnosed in about 2,650 men this year according to Breast Cancer.org. A leading patient advocate for the Male Breast Cancer Coalition bringing awareness to male breast cancer is our guest on episode 10: Male Breast Cancer, of the DiepCJourney podcast. Michael Singer and his wife Patty share the poignant story of his sister’s death from metastatic breast cancer and how if formed his fierce work in patient advocacy. He has become a strong voice bringing awareness that breast cancer does not discriminate and touches the lives of men, too. The Breast Cancer Diagnosis In 2010, Michael felt a lump under his left nipple about the size of a tip of a pencil eraser. Patty advised him to tell his doctor at his routine annual physical exam. Did he? No. Patty asked Michael why he did not tell him. His answer, “Because I was embarrassed”. That Continue Reading →

Episode 12: Patient Advocacy and Health Disparities

Posted on by

Roberta Albany is a formidable breast cancer patient advocate and spokesperson for health disparities. Her work with Living Beyond Breast Cancer and in her own community at Cancer in the Know has gained her great respect and why I am excited to interview this friend and colleague in the breast cancer space for Episode 12: Patient Advocacy and Health Disparities for the DiepCJourney Podcast.  The Making of a Patient Advocate Roberta did not set out to be a spokesperson and patient advocate for the breast cancer community. Her diagnosis defined her role and lead her to this work. She describes her experience with the diagnosis she received in October of 2013. Bobbi found a lump while training for a half marathon with her running group, Black Girls Run. She could not remember if she had done her monthly self-breast exam. She recalls her breast had been bothering her, especially the left side. Upon doing her Continue Reading →

Episode 8: ERAS Protocol in Breast Reconstruction

Posted on by

Are fear of pain and time of recovery after breast reconstruction surgery some of your biggest concerns? If so, Episode 8: ERAS Protocol in Breast Reconstruction, with Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo will give you information about ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) protocol many large volume centers are now using for DIEP flap and other types of breast reconstruction. Dr. C is the president of  PRMA in San Antonio and the developer of the Breast Advocate app. Both of these sites have more information about ERAS protocol as well as the DiepCJourney blog and  DiepC Foundation YouTube channel.  Why Use ERAS? There is a shared interest Dr. C and I share in having this conversation. He states it very clearly at the beginning of the podcast. The number one beneficiary is patient experience and patient outcomes. There are substantial data and evidence-based studies about results of using ERAS and the benefits it offers patients. In fact, follow the directions below and Continue Reading →

Episode 7: Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer? What are Next Steps?

Posted on by

Have you been overwhelmed with emotion and information when newly diagnosed with breast cancer? My guest, Dr. Deanna Attai, is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. Episode 7 takes us from being newly diagnosis with breast cancer to the clinical visit and what are next steps. As past president of the American Society of Breast Surgeons I have leaned on Dr. Attai since I first met her in May of 2019 at the ASBrS annual conference. Breast cancer is not one disease and patients bring to their consult with a wide variety of knowledge regarding their diagnosis. Tumor biology, stage, grade, and family history are some of the factors discussed after being newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Step 1: Knowing the Type of Breast Cancer She guides us through how she helps patients who are confused Continue Reading →

Episode 5: Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Posted on by

Dr. Ron Israeli of New York Breast Reconstruction and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (NYBRA.com) and Dr. George DeNoto, Director of General Surgery and Hernia Institute, St. Francis, Hospital, East Hills New York, discuss the technique they have developed together in Episode 5, abdominal wall reconstruction, for the DiepCJourney Podcast. I hear from patients in the DiepCJourney Facebook group who requests information on various topics. This is one of those honored requests and I knew exactly who to turn to. I invited Dr. Israeli to do the podcast. To my pleasant surprise he asked if he could be joined by his colleague, Dr. George DeNoto. These two gentlemen have known each other for a while when they trained together in General Surgery. They refer to each other as “surgical brothers” leaning on each other as resource and eventually collaborating on a technique to repair hernia after TRAM flap surgery. Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Continue Reading →

Episode 4: Coordinated Care in Breast Cancer

Posted on by

Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer or at high risk of getting breast cancer due to a genetic mutation? Do you remember the day you heard those words and got the news? How many healthcare providers did you have on your team? In Episode 4 we discuss the importance of coordinated care in breast cancer. My guest is an educator, microsurgeon and Director for MedStar Plastic and Reconstruction surgery and Academic Chair for the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center, Dr. David H. Song. He chairs the BC3 Conference in Washington, D. C. The purpose of the conference as stated from the website: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women. Diagnosis and treatments are part of the practice of a wide number of medical specialists and there are national initiatives calling for a multidisciplinary approach to the care of breast cancer patients. The multiple Continue Reading →